The Home Birth Midwife | Karen Bachman [Home Birth Practice] - BirthGuide Chicago

The Home Birth Midwife

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Address:
Elgin, IL 60120
(708) 404-5128
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DELIVERY OPTIONS
  • Water birth
    i Water birth means delivering your baby in a tub. Some facilities offer tubs for labor only. Learn more about water birth here.
  • Breech trial of labor
    i If your baby is bottom first instead of head down as you approach your due date, providers that allow "breech trial of labor" may give you the opportunity to labor vaginally instead of automatically scheduling you for a cesarean birth.
  • VBAC trial of labor
    i If you had a prior c-section, some providers may give you the opportunity to begin labor and try to deliver vaginally, which is a trial of "vaginal birth after cesarean" or VBAC. Learn more about VBAC here.
  • VBA2+C trial of labor
    i If you've had more than one prior c-section, some providers may give you the opportunity to begin labor and try to delivery vaginally, which is a trial of vaginal birth after 2 or more cesareans or VBA2+C trial of labor. Learn more about VBAC here.
  • Vacuum or forceps delivery on site
    i Delivery option tooltip 5
  • C-section available on site
    i Delivery option tooltip 6
  • C-section team on site 24/7
    i Delivery option tooltip 7
  • In-unit C-sections
    i Family-centered or Gentle c-section means that your partner can be with you in the OR during your c-section and that your baby will be placed on your chest immediately after delivery for skin-to-skin contact. Some facilities also offer the option of a clear surgical drape, which allows you to see your baby being born; delayed cord clamping after delivery (at least one minute); unhurried delivery (see a video here); and a dedicated nurse who will support skin-to-skin contact throughout the post-delivery procedure.
  • Family-centered/gentle c-section
  • Family-centered c-section: clear drape available
  • Family-centered c-section: delayed cord clamping
  • Family-centered c-section: unhurried delivery from incision
  • Family-centered c-section: dedicated 1-to-1 nursing support

See comments

LABOR OPTIONS

In uncomplicated labor...

  • Moving throughout labor (e.g. wireless telemetry)
  • Intermittent electronic fetal monitoring
  • Intermittent auscultation
  • IV not required
  • IV not routine
  • Eating throughout labor - clear tray only
  • Eating throughout labor - unrestricted
  • Drinking throughout labor
  • Showering during labor
  • Laboring in a tub
  • Aromatherapy
BIRTHING EQUIPMENT
  • Bean bag pillow
  • Birthing stool
  • Birth Balls
  • Peanut ball
  • Reclining chair
  • Rocking chair
  • Support rope, sling or bar
PAIN RELIEF
  • Epidural
  • Patient controlled epidural
  • Dedicated L&D anesthesiology team
  • Narcotics
  • Nitrous-oxide
  • TENS unit
SUPPORT
  • Partner/support person policies
  • allowed in triage
  • allowed in labor room
  • allowed in OR for C-section
  • allowed in postpartum
  • allowed in NICU
  • Bed available for support person
  • Doula policies
  • allowed in triage
  • allowed in labor room
  • allowed in OR for C-section
  • allowed in postpartum
  • allowed in NICU
  • Siblings allowed in labor

Number of support people allowed: more than 4

See comments

NEWBORN & POSTPARTUM CARE

After routine delivery...

  • Suctioning only if needed
  • Delayed cord clamping (at least 1 minute)
  • Delayed cord clamping (at least 3 minutes)
  • Delayed baby bath
  • Uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact until first feed
  • Baby rooming-in
  • Non-emergent nursery care available
  • All routine newborn exams at mother's bedside
  • Early discharge - 24 hours or less
  • Home postpartum visit
BREASTFEEDING
  • Baby-friendly designation
  • Lactation consultants (IBCLC) available for consultation on site
  • 24/7 lactation support on site
  • No formula given to breastfeeding babies in first 48 hours
  • Donor milk available
HIGH RISK OPTIONS
  • Maternal Fetal Medicine specialists
  • 24/7 Neonatalogist or Pediatric Hospitalist on site
  • Perinatal Level IIE
  • Perinatal Level III
NICU OPTIONS
  • Bed provided for parent
  • Kangaroo care supported
ROOM OPTIONS
  • One room for labor, birth, recovery & postpartum (LDRP)
  • One room for labor, birth & recovery (LDR)
  • Private post-partum rooms
  • In-room shower
  • In-room labor tub
ROOM AMENITIES
  • Dimmable lighting
  • CD player
  • DVD player
  • Music speakers (phone or IPod)
  • Television
  • WIFI
  • Free WIFI
  • Refrigerator
  • Microwave
INSURANCE

Accepts Medicaid : No

See Insurance comments for details

Languages - In-Person Interpretation
    View options & amenities
    Address:
    Elgin, IL 60120
    (708) 404-5128

    Home birth provider

    Outcomes:

    Overall C-Section Rate (not risk-adjusted) - %

    As compared to Chicago-area hospitals, this rate is:
    Among the LOWEST
    low
    MEDIUM - LOW
    med-low
    MEDIUM - HIGH
    med-high
    Among the HIGHEST
    High

    Primary C-Section Rate (not risk-adjusted) - %

    As compared to Chicago-area hospitals, this rate is:
    Among the LOWEST
    low
    MEDIUM - LOW
    med-low
    MEDIUM - HIGH
    med-high
    Among the HIGHEST
    High

    VBAC Rate (not risk-adjusted)

    As compared to Chicago-area hospitals, this rate is:
    Among the HIGHEST
    High
    MEDIUM - HIGH
    med-high
    MEDIUM - LOW
    med-low
    Among the LOWEST
    low

    Exclusive Breastfeeding Rate - %

    As compared to Chicago-area hospitals, this rate is:
    Among the HIGHEST
    High
    MEDIUM - HIGH
    med-high
    MEDIUM - LOW
    med-low
    Among the LOWEST
    low
    • Number of VBAC deliveries per year- no data provided
    • Epidural Rate - no data provided
    • Overall Induction Rate - no data provided
    • Early Elective Deliveries - no data provided
    • Episiotomy Rate - no data provided

    Maternity Care Overview

    [from the provider’s website]

    I am a Certified Professional Midwife and Nurse attending home births within a one-hour radius from Elgin IL. I provide holistic, informed consent care throughout pregnancy, birth and postpartum.

    My name is Karen Bachman and I have been a home birth nurse and midwife for 26 years. I’ve attended close to 2000 home births in Illinois and SW Wisconsin. Both my sons were born at home, and I caught 2 of my grandchildren at home as well. After becoming a nurse in 1999, I immediately started work with a practice called Home First. There I learned the beautiful art of physiologic birth in the home environment. In 2011 I became a Certified Professional Midwife and started my own practice in 2013. I am especially focused on forming relationships with my clients so that when your birth day comes we are all very comfortable with each other. The other thing I consider VERY important, is informed consent. YOU are in charge of your body, YOUR baby and YOUR birth. Any and all testing is discussed and fully understood before decisions are made BY YOU. I reside in Elgin, IL where my private practice/office is also located. I live with my tiny dog, Maisy, and in my down time I enjoy many arts and crafts and staying active with pickleball, biking and swimming. Feel free to email me at  for more info.

    Visit provider’s website to learn more.

    Patient ​Acceptance ​Guidelines

    Risk guidelines for accepting patients

    I care for low-risk mothers only.

    Last updated: April 28, 2025

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